Saints Open Season Against Raiders – Game Preview

The New Orleans Saints open their 2016 regular season schedule on Sunday afternoon, when they play host to the Oakland Raiders in an NFC/AFC match-up.

Kickoff time at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans is scheduled for noon, and you can hear all the play-by-play action on ESPN 1420, as well as 97.3 The Dawg.

You can also watch the game in the Acadiana area on KLFY.

New Orleans leads the all-time series, 6-5-1, and have won the last three meetings, including a 38-17 win back in 2012, the last time the two franchises met.

Both teams ended 2015 with identical 7-9 records, the second-consecutive such season for the Saints.

Offensively, last season, the Saints averaged 25.5 points-per-game, along with 403.8 total yards, including 310.6 passing yards, and 93.2 rushing yards-per-game.

New Orleans is led by quarterback Drew Brees, who threw for 4,870 yards and 32 touchdowns last year, along with running back Mark Ingram, who rushed for 769 yards and 6 touchdowns, and receiver Brandin Cooks, who caught 84 passes for 1,138 yards and 9 touchdowns.

The Raiders, offensively, averaged 22.4 points, 333.5 total yards, 242.4 passing yards, and 91.1 rushing yards a game last season.

Oakland is paced by quarterback Derek Carr, who threw for 3,987 yards and 32 touchdowns last year, along with receiver Amari Cooper, who caught 72 pases for 1,070 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Defensively, the Saints gave up an average of 413.8 yards-per-game in 2015, including 284.0 passing yards and 129.8 rushing yards, while the Raiders allowed 363.6 total yards, including 258.8 passing yards and 104.9 rushing yards.